Athea GAA Club Notes:

Sympathies:
The Club would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the Murphy and O’Connor family on the sad passing of John “Bottles” in New York recently after an illness bravely borne. John played underage and Junior B football for the club up until the nineties. He will be sadly missed by his friends and former team mates.

Club Fixtures:
Woodlands House Hotel County Premier Junior A Football Championship- Group 1-Round 1
Venue: Cappagh. Date/time: Saturday July 19th 2025. TBC
Athea v Mungret St. Pauls
This game has been put back further following Limericks success in the Tailtean Cup Semi Final. It will now take place the week after the Tailtean Cup Final. This is our first game in this year’s County Championship and lets hope we can repeat last year by securing the win.

County Results:
Tailtean Cup -Semi-Final
Limerick 2-18 Wicklow 1-17
This was a game which looked like it was running away from Limerick as James Naughton struggled with injury in the first half and was taken off early into the second. Then Ian Corbett and Emmet Righter. The resilience shown by the team in the second half was exceptional with Josh Ryan saving a penalty and kicking a long range two pointer free. Rob Childs tackled the goalkeeper who coughed up the ball which was quickly despatched into an empty net by the Galtee Gaels man. The subs bench had a big impact in the last quarter as Wicklow went 20 minutes without a score.

All Ireland Senior Hurling Quarter Final:
Dublin 2-24 Limerick 0-28
Well we didn’t see this one coming and brings this year’s campaign to an end. It goes to show that hunger can bring an intensity that wins out in the end even when you are a man down. Limerick could never assert themselves enough to put Dublin away. The two Dublin goals in the second half and the great save made by Sean Brennan, as Aaron Gillane looked certain to score, proved to tip the balance in Dublin’s favour. The Cats will not be caught in the semi final and should have too much for Dublin. Hopefully, with some rebuilding over the winter Limerick can reignite in 2026.

County Fixtures:
Tailtean Cup – Final
Venue: Croke Park. Date/time: Saturday July 12th 2025
Limerick v Kildare
Croke Park beckons again, as the footballers are in the final against Kildare on Saturday July 12th 2025. With no more hurling outings this year, this is the last chance of silverware so don’t put way your Limerick gear yet and put the date in your diary.

FRC Rule amendment:
Amend Rule 2 – Set Play, 2.12 Mark, Play on immediately – Kick Out Mark,(b) (ii) to read as follows:
(ii) If the Player is illegally challenged, a free kick shall be awarded to the player’s team from the point at which the challenge is made, and this free kick may be taken by any player on that team.
This now means that the referee cannot bring the ball forward 50m if a player is fouled while he has called a mark from a kickout. It will instead be a free from where the challenge is made.

Fixtures:
U16 Girls
Best of luck to our u16’s who play St. Patrick’s in the u16 final on 30th June at 7pm in Athea.
U10 Girls
Our u10 girls will play in Ballysteen on Saturday 28th at 12pm
U8 Girls
Our u8 girls will play their next blitz in Cappagh next Sunday 29th
Division 2 League
Our intermediate girls will play next game against Ahane June 28th at 7pm.

Munster LGFA Festival of Football:
Athea GAA / LGFA are delighted to be chosen to host the Munster u8 / u10 Festival of football on Saturday July 12th. Teams from Limerick , Clare and Kerry will attend on the day.

Membership:
Our 2025 membership registration is now live. Please see link to register with the club and purchase our club draw tickets for 2025, all players need to register ahead of the season and we would encourage everyone to become a member and purchase a ticket for our club draw as it all helps towards the running and up keep of the club and walking track.
https://atheagaa.clubforce.com/products/membership

Split the bucket draw:
The last draw took place on the 16th of June 2025. The lucky winner of
€173 was Pauline Kellegan The next draw will take place on the 30th of June. Tickets available at Collins shop, Ger Whites bar, Brown Joes bar, Gables Grill, O’Riordans Pharmacy, Credit Union and at bingo on a Friday evening.

Cul Camp:
This year’s cul camp will take place from July 7th to 11th. This has been a great success over the years with approximately 100 kids taking part. It will be for both hurling and football again this year. Online booking are now open www.kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie

Healthy Athea:
Good to go Thursday the 26th in con Colbert hall Athea 11:30am to 1pm.

Hurling:
Hurling training will continue over the summer. Wednesday nights 7pm to 8pm for U14 and U16. Sunday morning for all ages 10am to 11am
Our U8s were out Saturday morning with another fantastic performance, skill, teamwork, tackling, defending and scores as good as you’d see on any hurling pitch.

Congrats:
Congratulations to Loren Healy who Co Captained Limerick U14 camogie team to win the division 1B final Saturday the 14th in the Munster Provincial Development Blitz in Mick Neville Park.

Well done to Kane Brouder and Jack Leahy who played with Limerick U14s football team against Kildare and Laois on Saturday.